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L  U.S.  DEPOSITORY 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT   OF  AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 

L.  0.  HOWARD, 

Entomologist  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 


SOME  TIMELY  SUGGESTIONS  FOR  THE  OWNERS  OF 
WOODLOTS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


BY 


F.  H.  MOSHER,  Entomological  Assistant, 


AND 


G.  E.  CLEMENT,  Assistant  in  Forest  Management,  Gipsy  Moth  and 
Brown-tail  Moth  Investigations. 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  I'RINTING  OFFICE  :  1917 


Issued ,  1917. 

UNITED  STATES  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 
L.  0.  Howard,  Entomologist  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 


SOME  TIMELY  SUGGESTIONS  FOR  THE  OWNERS  OF  WOODLOTS  IN 

NEW  ENGLAND. 

By  F.  H.  Mosher,  Entomological  Assistant,  and  G.  E.  Clement,  Assistant  in  Forest 
Management,  Gipsy  Moth  and  Brown-tail  Moth  Investigations. 

Farmers  and  other  woodlot  owners  in  New  England  have,  at  the 
present  time,  an  unusual  opportunity  not  only  to  realize  appreciable 
sums  from  their  timber  but  also  to  better  the  condition  of  their 
woodlands  and  lessen  the  liability  of  their  being  attacked  by  the 
gipsy  moth.  Because  of  the  increased  demand  for  cordwood  it  is 
now  possible  to  dispose  of  classes  of  material  not  ordinarily  mer- 
chantable, and  while  labor  is  scarce  and  high  priced  the  increased 
cost  of  getting  out  cordwood,  it  is  believed,  will  be  offset  by  the 
higher  value  of  the  wood.  For  these  reasons  timber  owners,  by 
puting  into  effect  a  few  simple  rules  regarding  the  handling  of  their 
timber,  will  often  be  able  to  accomplish  all  the  following  objects  at 
one  time: 

First.  A  large  amount  of  low-grade  wood  can  be  disposed  of  to  the 
advantage  of  the  owner. 

Second.  A  better  class  of  trees  with  improved  growing  conditions 
will  be  provided  by  the  removal  of  inferior  trees  now  standing. 

Third.  The  numbers  of  gipsy  moths  may  be  reduced  by  the  removal 
of  those  trees  of  which  they  are  particularly  fond  and  upon  which 
they  thrive  particularly  well. 

In  cutting  cordwood  heretofore,  the  practice  generally  has  been 
to  cut  clean.  Where  most  of  the  trees  on  an  area  are  mature,  dead, 
dying,  or  defective,  a  continuation  of  this  practice  is  to  be  recom- 
mended, but  where  a  large  number  of  young  trees  are  standing  it  is 
often  preferable  to  thin  judiciously.  Such  thinning  should  be  based 
on  several  considerations,  among  which  are: 

1.  All  dead,  dying,  and  defective  trees  should  be  cut  to  make  room  for  live  trees, 
and  in  the  case  of  dying  trees,  to  check  the  development  of  injurious  insects  which 
may  breed  in  them. 

100201°— 17  3 


4         SUGGESTIONS  FOB  OWB  v.  mod  LOTS  IB    M-.w    lnmland. 

2.  Species  of  trees  having  the  highest  commercial   value  should  be  given  every 
opportunity  to  grow  ami  develop  well.    All  other  trees  interfering  with  their  gr 
and  development  should  be  removed. 

'     M'  rt  I  u'  W  the  best  advai  d  a  large  amount  of  light.     A  thin- 

ning should  aim  to  spare  the  trees  so  that  each  individual  shall  have  a  proper  amount 
of  light. 

4-  Tl  "f  certain  species  of  trees  is  move  desired  by  gipsy  moths  than  that 

of  other  species.     The  removal  of  such  trees  may  often  afford  relief  from  these  pesta. 

5.  The  [.rice  of  lumber  is  rising,  and  the  value  of  s  pod  quality  will  rise 
correepondingly,  Thinning  may  often  be  a  great  help  in  the  production  of  such 
woods   besides  increasing  the  rati/  of  growth. 

6.  ( Sutting clean  is  injurious  to  forest  soil,  and  a  long  time  must  elapse  before  another 
CU1  can  be  grown.  Since  no  one  can  predict  how  long  war  conditions  will  last,  it 
seems  advisable  to  cut  gradually,  removing  the  poorest  trees  first  and  saving  the 
better  ones  for  higher  prices. 

There  are  75  species  of  native  and  naturalized  trees  growing  in 
thia  region.     Realizing  their  varying  liability  to  gipsy-moth  attack; 

the    Bureau   of   Entomology    has    conducted    extensive   laborafa 
experiments  for  a  series  of  years  to  determine  the  susceptibility  of 

each  of  these  species.  It  has  been  found  that  the  small  caterpillars 
will  not  feed  on  certain  kinds  of  foliage,  although  they  may  seriou-ly 
injure  the  same  trees  after  becoming  nearly  full  grown.  Other 
tree-  are  eaten  freely  by  caterpillars  of  all  sizes,  while  some  foliage 
is  never  attacked. 

All  of  the  laboratory  experiment-  were  supplemented  by  extensive 
observations  on  the  feeding  of  the  caterpillar-  in  the  field,  and  from 
the  data  secured  the  forest  tree-  have  been  grouped  in  the  following 
classes: 

C]  \ss  I. — Species  that  are  favored  food  of  gipsy-moth  larvx  in  all  their  stages. 


Ash.  Mountain. 

Aspen. 

Aspen.  Large-tooth. 

Balm  of  Gilead. 

Basswood. 

Beech. 

Birch,  Gray. 

Birch,  Paper. 

Birch,  River. 

Boxelder. 

Oak.  Black. 

dak.  Bur. 

Oak,  Chestnut. 


Oak,  Pin. 

Oak.  Post. 
Oak.  Red. 
Oak.  Scarlet 
Oak,  Scrub. 
Oak,  Swamp  white. 
Oak,  White. 
Service  Berry. 
Sumac,  Dwarf. 
Sumac,  Staghom. 
Tamarack. 
Willow.  Glaucous. 
Witch  Hazel. 


Class  II. — Species  that  are  favored  food  for  gipsy-moth  larvx  after  the  earlier  larva  stages. 


Chestnut. 
Hemlock. 
Pine.  Pitch- 
Bed. 


Pine,  White. 
Spruce,  Black. 
Spruce,  Red. 

Spruce,  White. 


SUGGESTIONS   FOR   OWNERS  OF  WOOD  LOTS  IN    NEW    ENGLAND. 


Class  III. — Species  that  are  yiot  particularly  favored,  but  upon  which  a  small  propor- 
tion of  tlie  gipsy-ynoth  larvae  may  develop. 

Beech,  Blue.  liickory,  Bitlernut. 

Birch,  Black.  Hickory,  Mocker-nut. 

Birch,  Yellow.  Hickory,  Pignut. 

Cherry,  Black.  Hickory,  Shaghark. 

Cherry,  Choke.  Hop  Hornbeam. 

Cherry,  Wild  red.  Maple,  Red. 

Cottonwood.  Maple,  Silver. 

Elm,  American.  Maple,  Sugar. 

Elm,  Slippery.  Poplar,  Silver. 

Gum,  Black.  Sassafras. 

Class  IV. — Species  that  are  unfavored  food  for  gipsy-moth  larvae. 


Arborvitse. 
Ash,  Black. 
Ash,  Red. 
Ash,  White. 
Balsam  Fir. 
Butternut. 
Cedar,  Red.    ■ 
Cedar,  White. 
Dogwood,  Flowering. 
Hackberry. 
Hollv.  American. 


Laurel,  Mountain. 
Locust,  Black. 
Locust,  Honey. 
Maple,  Mountain. 
Maple,  Striped. 
Mulberry,  Red. 
Sheepberry. 
Sycamore. 
Tulip. 
Walnut,  Black. 


The  gipsy  moth  is  such  a  serious  pest  over  a  large  portion  of  New 
England  that  the  varying  extent  to  which  it  feeds  on  trees  of  different 
species  is  a  very  important  factor  in  determining  what  trees  shall 
be  removed  and  what  ones  preserved  in  thinning.  Other  factors 
affecting  such  determination  are  the  commercial  value,  rapidity  of 
growth,  and  adaptability  to  different  soil  conditions  of  different 
species  of  trees.  With  these  several  factors  and  75  species  of  trees 
occurring  in  a  multitude  of  combinations,  it  can  be  seen  how  impos- 
sible it  is  to  outline  any  plan  of  thinning  which  will  be  applicable  in 
all  cases.  An  attempt  is  made  here,  however,  to  indicate  in  a  general 
way  some  of  the  qualities  of  each  species  which  must  be  considered 
in  thinning. 

TREATMENT  OF  TREES  IN  CLASS  I. 

Beginning  with  Class  I  of  the  foregoing  classification,  it  is  found  to 
be  composed  of  26  species  which  are  favored  as  food  by  gipsy-moth 
larvae.  Ten  of  these  species,  namely,  mountain  ash,  gray  birch,  river 
lurch,  boxelder,  scrub  oak,  service  berry,  dwarf  sumac,  staghorn  sumac, 
glaucous  willow,  and  witch  hazel  are  of  little  commercial  value  and 
should  be  removed. 

Ten  of  the  species  in  this  class  are  oaks,  including  the  scrub  oak 
just  mentioned.  Oaks  growing  on  light  soils  and  rocky  ridges  are 
usually  not  very  vigorous,  grow  slowly,  and  suffer  severely  from 
gipsy-moth  attack. 


6  "It   0WNKB8  01   WOOD  LOTS  IN    Nl.W    l.Ndl.ANO. 

The  bw  oak,  chestnut  mil,-,  jnn  oak,  post  oak,  and  swamp  whiU  oak 
are  generally  more  or  Less  rare  and  of  restricted  local  occurrence  in 
tlii-  region,  so  that  they  have  no  great  commercial  importance. 
Owing  to  their  greal  susceptibility  to  moth  attack  these  trees  should 
be  cut  in  every  case  when-  they  are  interfering  with  the  growth  of 
better  trees,  or  where  there  is  an  opportunity  to  replace  them  with 
tree-  not  bo  liable  to  moth  attack. 

The  whiU  oak  reaches  the  northern  limit  of  its  range  in  the  gipsy- 
moth  infested  region,  yel  it  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the  <>aks. 

1 1>  foliage  -rem-  to  he  particularly  desired  by  the  gip-v  moth,  and  it 
grows  very  slowly,  for  these  reasons  it  i->  not  a  desirable  type  for 
growth  in  this  region. 

The  red,  black,  and  scarlet  oaks  grow  well  and  produce  a  valuable 
class  of  material.  Where  young,  vigorous  trees  of  these  species  occur 
on  good  soil  in  mixture  with  other  trees,  they  may  he  left,  despite 
their  liability  to  gipsy-moth  attack,  providing  that  they  are  not 
interfering  with  the  growth  of  more  valuable  tn 

Aspen,  large-tooth  aspen,  and  balm  oi  GUead  can  not  tolerate  -hade. 

and  they  grow  Well  Only  where  they  have  free  access  to  plenty  of 
light.  Scattered  specimens  in  mixed  woods  may  well  be  cut,  hut 
pure  -lands,  which  occur  occasionally,  may  be  left  to  mature  when 
they  are  in  demand  for  pulp  or  excelsior. 

Bass-wood  occurs  very  much  scattered  in  this  region  and  grows  t<» 
advantage  only  on  the  best  of  sites.  It  may  well  be  eliminated  from 
all  others. 

Beech  is  more  abundant  in  the  northern  than  in  the  southern 
portion  of  the  region.  It  grow-  -lowly  and  i-  likely  to  become  defec- 
tive before  maturity.  It  i-  perhaps  the  lca-t  liable  to  damage  by  the 
gipsy  moth  of  any  of  the  Class  1  tree-.  It  i-  an  excellent  fuel  and 
should  be  cut  heavily  when  in  the  way  of  faster  growing  and  more 
valuable  tree-. 

Paper  birch  demand-  a  large  amount  of  light  to  grow  well  and  i-  not 
abundant  in  mixed  stands.  When  it  occurs  in  abundance,  it  is  in 
good  demand  for  spool  and  novelty  wood.  It  make-  an  excellent 
fuel,  and  scattered  specimens  could  often  be  cut  to  the  advantage  of 

trees  to  be  left. 

Tamarack  is  nowhere  abundant  in  the  infested  region.  When  dry 
it  makes  excellent  kindling  and  a  hot  fire  for  a  short  time. 

i  i:i.\  I  mix  r   ci     TREKS    i\    OX  kSS   II. 

Class  11  is  composed  of  eight  species  of  tree-  on  which  gipsy-moth 
caterpillar-  in  their  earlic-t  stages  do  not  feed,  but   upon  which  I 
do   feed   in   their  later  stages.      Hence,   if  stands  composed   of   tl 
species  have  in  their  Ticinity  no  plants  upon  which  the  young  cater- 


SUGGESTIONS  FOR  OWNERS  OF   WOOD   LOTS  IN   NEW   ENGLAND.  7 

pillars  can  food,  the  stands  may  safely  l>o  considered  immune  from 
attack.  Trees  of  this  class  may  be  grown  safely  in  mixture  with  trees 
of  Class  IV. 

Stands  composed  largely  of  one  or  more  of  the  species  of  this  class 
can  1)0  made  immune  from  gipsy  moth  attack  by  removing  the  trees 
which  may  provide  the  young  larva'  with  food.  There  are  many 
places  where  a  considerable  amount  of  cordwood  could  be  cut  most 
advantageously  with  this  object  in  view. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  to  protect  and  preserve  young  wMte 
pine  and  red  pine,  especially  when  they  occur  on  poor  soils.  They 
often  grow  well  on  such  soils,  and  if  they  are  present  the  associated 
hardwoods  which  do  not  grow  well  on  such  sites,  and  which  may  be 
subject  to  caterpillar  attack,  may  he  cut  beneficially.  Red  pine  is 
not  affected  by  the  white-pine  blister  rust,  which  is  spreading  very 
slowly  among  the  white  pines.  If  young  white  pines  are  given  a  fair 
chance  to  grow,  they  will  probably  reach  maturity  before  being 
seriously  affected  by  the  rust. 

Chestnut  grows  well  and  yiolds  a  valuable  product,  but  unfortu- 
nately is  subject  to  attacks  of  the  chestnut  blight.  "It  makes  a  poor 
grade  of  fuel,  but  with  a  shortage  of  the  better  grades  an  opportunity 
doubtless  will  be  afforded  for  the  disposal  of  a  considerable  amount 
of  this  species. 

TREATMENT  OF  TREES  IN  CLASS  III. 

Class  III  is  composed  of  20  species  which  are  not  particularly 
favored  by  gipsy  moths,  but  upon  which  a  small  proportion  of  the 
larvae  may  develop.  Stands  composed  of  any  trees  of  this  class 
alone  or  mixed  with  trees  of  Class  IV,  but  containing  no  trees  of 
Class  I,  would  maintain  only  slight  infestations  and  rarely,  if  ever, 
would  be  defoliated. 

Blue  beech,  choke  cherry,  wild  red  cherry,  hop  hornbeam,  and  sassafras 
have  no  particular  commercial  value  ordinarily  and  could  well  be  con- 
verted into  cordwood  at  this  time. 

Black  cherry  has  considerable  commercial  value,  but  its  occurrence 
is  generally  rare.  American  elm  and  slippery  elm  are  also  generally 
scattered.  Unless  growing  in  very  good  soil,  these  trees  could  well  bo 
cut.  Cottonwood ,  bitternut  hickory,  black  gum,  silver  maple,  and  silver 
poplar  are  rare.  Bitternut  hickory  makes  very  good  fuel,  but  silver 
maple  is  not  so  good.  The  cutting  or  preservation  of  these  species 
will  have  little  effect  in  any  respect. 

The  remaining  trees  of  this  class,  namely,  black  and  yellow  birches, 
mockernut,  pignut,  and  shagbark  hickories,  and  red  and  sugar  maples 
can  be  grown  in  comparative  safety  as  far  as  the  gipsy  moth  is  con- 
cerned.    The  yellow  birch,  hickories,  and  sugar  maple  make  the  best 




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of  fuel,  but  they  also  produce  excellent  grades  of  lumber.  Wuh  fuel 
of  this  class  in  great  demand,  there  will  he  a  temptation  to  cut  young 
trees  <>f  this  species.  Demi,  dying,  and  defective  trees  mayweD  be 
removed  now,  hut  young  and  vigorous  trees  should  he  left  \<>  grow  to 
larger  and  hence  more  valuable  sizes'. 

TKI.A  I  Ml   \  I     <>K     I  BBSS     IN    (  LABS     l\  . 

( ilass  IV  i-  composed  of  21  species  of  trees  on  winch  the  gipsy  moth 
does  not  feed,  or  if  it  does,  the  amount  is  so  Blight  a-  t"  he  entirely 
negligible.  Stand-  composed  of  trees  of  this  group  alone  or  combined 
with  trees  of  ( 'la--  11  need  cause  no  anxiety  whatever  as  far  as  gipsy- 
moth  attack  l-  concerned.  Flowering  dogwood,  mountain  laurel, 
mountain  maple,  Striped  maple,  and  eheepberry  have  little  or  no  com- 
mercial value  locally,  and  if  large  enough  could  well  he  cut  for  cord- 
wood  at  this  time. 

Arborrit<£,  black  ash,  and  whAtt  <t<lnr  occur  usually  in  or  near 
swamps.     They  need  no  consideration  as  fuel. 

Butternut,  red  cedar s  locust,  honey  locust,  and  sycamore  all  require  a 
large  amount  of  light,  for  which  reason  they  occur  rarely  in  mixed 
woods,  and  they  are  of  little  importance  as  fuel. 

Red  ash,  hackberry,  American  holly,  nil  mulberry,  tulip,  and  black 
walnut  arc  so  rare  as  to  require  little  consideration. 

In  this  region  of  degenerate  woods,  cuttings  or  thinnings  among 
young  tree-  -hould  almost  always  be  made  with  a  view  to  improving 
the  quality  of  the  tree-  left,  or  the  future  growth.  Thi-  mean-  that 
woodland  should  he  kept  fully  stocked,  hut  not  crowded,  with 
vigorous  trees  of  the  ino-t  valuable  specie-.  If  inferior  trees  are  cut 
out,  care  should  he  taken  to  protect  seedlings  and  -aplings  of  bettor 
species  which  may  he  on  the  ground,  for  otherwise,  in  the  case  "f 
deciduous  trees,  sprouts  will  grow  vigorously,  and  the  same  old  con- 
ditions will  reappear.  When  young  growth  of  desirable  species  i-  not 
present,  and  no  provision  can  lie  made  for  introducing  better  trees,  it 
ma  v  often  be  better  to  leave  the  existing  stand  than  to  cut  it. 

It  i-  realized  that  the  foregoing  suggestions  can  serve  only  in  a  \ery 
general  Way  as  a  guide  for  thinning,  hut  it  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau 
of  Entomology  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  to  aid 
the  woodland  owners  of  thi-  region  in  every  possible  way.  and  the 
writers  would  he  pleased  a-  far  B8  possible  to  confer  with  any  owner 
in   tin-   region  who  is  seriously  interested   and  will  apply  to  them  in 

person  or  by  letter  at  Bureau  of  Entomology  offii  set, 

Melrose  Highlands,  Mass. 


